Fruit growers in Motueka are counting the cost of Boxing Day's massive hailstorm.

Heywood Orchards grows golden kiwifruit and apples.

Evan Heywood told Tim Dower the storm was the worst he's seen - and it shredded the leaves and significantly knocked around the fruit.

"You can't just walk away from the damaged fruit either, you've still got to get it off the vines and trees.

"The workload still hasn't changed but the value of the crop has been reduced to nothing."

A fruit growers association in Motueka in the Nelson area says yesterday's hail storm may have wiped out so much fruit the labour crisis is somewhat averted.

The association's president says some growers lost their entire crop in the storm.

Richard Clarkson says it will cost "millions of dollars", and the district and entire country would feel the impact.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow after what's already been a challenging year for growers."

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